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| The Prehistoric Age |
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| Archaeological findings have indicated that the
first settlements on the Korean Peninsula occurred
700,000 years ago. |
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| Gojoseon (2333 - 108 B.C) |
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| According to legend, the mythical figure Dan-gun
founded Gojseon, the first Korean Kingdom, in 2333
B.C. Subsequently, several tribes moved from the
southern part of Manchuria to the Korean Peninsula. |
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| The Three Kingdoms Period (57 B.C. -
A.D. 676) |
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The Three Kingdoms refers to a period of
time (early 4th to mid-7th centuries AD) marked
by the struggle of three rival kingdoms: Goguryeo,
Baekje, and Silla over the territory spanning
the Korean peninsula and part of Northeastern
Asia.
Goguryeo
An ancient state of the Korean peninsula,
Goguryeo occupied the largest territory among
the Three Kingdoms. Founded in 37 BC, Goguryeo
prospered on a vast area encompassing the
northern part of the Korean peninsula and
south-central Manchuria. The kingdom expanded
its territory in fierce battles against Chinese
kingdoms, but fell to an alliance of Silla
and Tang forces in 668 AD.
Silla
One of the ancient states of the Three Kingdoms,
Silla originated in the southeastern part
of the Korean peninsula. The kingdom lasted
for 992 years, from 57 BC to 935 AD. It conquered
Baekje and Goguryeo, one after the other,
by joining forces with the Tang Empire of
China. Following the unification of the Three
Kingdoms, The Tang Empire was no longer an
ally, but an invader. Hence, Silla joined
forces with the people of Goguryeo and Baekje
to drive out Tang forces, and founded the
first unified state in the history of Korea
in the territory south of the Daedonggang
River and Wonsanman.
Baekje
One of the three ancient kingdoms, Baekje (18 BC-660
AD) was founded by King Onjo, the son of the King
of Goguryeo, in the southwestern part of the Korean
peninsula. The kingdom witnessed the florescence
of the elegant and delicate Baekje culture, which
in particular greatly affected Japanese culture.
In 660 AD, Baekje was defeated by the coalition
troops of Silla and Tang of China. |
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| The Unified Silla Kingdom and Balhae |
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| The Unified Silla(676-935) |
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| The Unified Silla Kingdom promoted the development
of culture and arts, and the popularity of Buddhism
reached its peak during this period. The Unified
Silla Kingdom declined because of contention for
supremacy among the noble classes, and was annexed
by Goryeo in 935. |
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| Balhae(698-926)
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| The Balhae Kingdom began to emerge just as the
Goguryeo kingdom was on the verge of collapsing.
Goguryeo General, Dae Joyeong founded Balhae along
with his army of displaced peoples. At one point,
Balhae became so powerful that it was able to acquire
territories in northern and eastern parts of China.
At those times, the Tang Dynasty of China referred
to Balhae as 'the strong country by the sea in the
east.' The significance of the Balhae Kingdom is
greatly inherited from Goguryeo, including the land
that it was able to retrieve. |
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| The Goryeo Dynasty (918 - 1392) |
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The Goryeo Dynasty was established in 918.
Buddhism became the state religion during
this time and greatly influenced politics
and culture. Famous items produced during
this time include Goryeo celadon and the Tripitaka
Koreana. Jikjisimgyeong, Buddhist scripture
printed with the world's first movable metal
type developed in Korea during Goryeo Dynasty,
is at least 78 years older than the first
Gutenberg Bible.
The Goryeo Dynasty's strength decreased gradually
in the latter half of the 14th century. |
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| The Joseon Dynasty (1392 - 1910) |
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| The Joseon Dynasty was formed at the end of the
14th century. Confucianism became the state ideology
and exerted a massive influence over the whole of
society. The Joseon Dynasty produced Hangeul, the
Korean alphabet, which was invented in 1443, during
the reign of King Sejong. The dynasty's power declined
later because of foreign invasions, beginning with
the Japanese invasion of 1592. |
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| The Japanese Colonial Period (1910 -
1945) |
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| In 1876, the Joseon Dynasty was forced to adopt
an open-door policy regarding Japan. The Japanese
annexation of Korea concluded in 1910, and Korean
people had to suffer under the Japanese colonial
rule until the surrender of Japan in 1945, which
ended World War II. |
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| Establishment of the Korean Government
(1945-1948) |
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| Korea was liberated from Japanese oppression on
August 15, 1945, but it soon faced the tragic division
of North and South along the 38th parallel. Both
regions were placed under temporary military rule
by the U.S. and Soviet armies. In 1948 with the
help of the United Nations, South Korea held an
election on May 10th and elected Dr. Rhee Syngman
president. On August 15th of that same year, an
official declaration was made about the birth of
the South Korean government. On the other hand,
North Korea formed the Provisional People’s Committee
for North Korea, led by Kim Il-sung, in February
1946. On September 9, 1948, the Democratic People's
Republic of Korea was officially founded. |
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| The Korean War (1950-1953) |
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| In the early hours of June 25th, 1950, North Korea
attempted a forcible unification of North and South
Korea by invading South Korea over the 38th parallel.
In response, military help from over 16 nations
helped defend South Korea against the threat of
communism under the leadership of UN General Douglas
MacArthur. China and the Soviet Union lent their
military might to North Korea. The war continued
over the next 3 years until coming to an end on
July 27th 1953, with a peace agreement signed at
Panmunjeom, located in the DMZ. Not only did the
war ravage the peninsula, it also heightened hostile
sentiments between the North and South, making reunification
a difficult task. |
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| The Aftermath of War (1954-Current) |
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The Rhee Syngman government focused on an
anti-communist approach to government beginning
in 1954, but in 1960 the government's power
collapsed with the student's anti government
movement, the 4.19 Revolution. In 1963, Park
Chung-hee was elected president and ruled
with a controversial iron fist for the next
17 years. President Park Chung-hee's 'Saemaeul
Undong' (New Community Movement, an effort
to modernize Korea that began in 1970) brought
about much progress in South Korea, and the
systematic approach to economic development
also yielded increased exports and positive
returns. But with the democratic movement
in progress and the citizens becoming wary
of such extended rule, Park Chung-hee's life
ended in a 1979 assassination. Afterwards
in 1980, Chun Doo-hwan came to power and continued
to lead the nation with an authoritarian slant
as had been the case with former rulers. His
rule came to an end in 1987 after massive
protests across the country demanded democracy.
In 1988 the Roh Tae-woo government started
off the year on a good note by successfully
hosting the 1988 Seoul Olympics. His government
went on to join the UN in 1991. The Kim Young-sam
government which began in 1993 implemented
a new system in which people were required
to use their real names when making financial
transactions, a much needed revolution at
the time. In 1998, Kim Dae-jung was elected
president and threw his efforts into overcoming
the IMF financial catastrophe that hit Asia
in 1997, and also hosted the 17th FIFA World
Cup in 2002. President Kim Dae-jung was also
the winner of the 2000 Nobel Peace Prize for
his Sunshine Policy regarding North Korea.
President Rho Moo-hyun's term began in 2003
aiming, to achieve economic growth, and develop
Korea as the hus of Asia with a more democratic
style of leadership.
On the other hand, North Korea has been ruled
by Kim Jeong-il since the death of Kim Il-Sung
in 1994. Faced with dire economic situations,
North Korea has begun to implement partial
free trade in an effort to remedy the situation.
North and South Korea jointly signed an agreement
on July 4th, 1972 concerning the reunification of
the two Koreas, and in 2000 Kim Dae-jung and Kim
Jeong-il took early steps to explore reunification,
improving the economy, and solving the problem of
separated families. The family reunification program,
started in 1985, continues until this day. In 1998,
South Korean citizens began to be admitted into
North Korea to tour the Geumgangsan Diamond Mountains. |
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| ¦ WORLD CHRONOLOGICAL TABLE |
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| aa |
Korea |
China |
Japan |
The West |
| B.C. |
aa |
Bronze Age |
Jomon Period |
Ezrly Mesopotamia
Egyptian Kingdoms |
| 2000 |
aa |
Shang Dynasty (1766-1122)
Zhou Dynasty (1122-256) |
aa |
aa |
| 1000 |
Bronze Age
Gojoseon |
Spring and Autumn Period
(770-476) |
aa |
Founding of Rome(753) |
| 500 |
Iron Age
Buyeo |
Warring States Era (475-221)
Qin Dynasty (221-206)
Former Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-A.D.
9) |
Bronze Age
Yayoi Period |
Socrates (469-399)
Alexander the Great (356-323)
First Punic War (264-241)
Second Punic War (219-201) |
| 200 |
Confederated Kingdoms of Samhan
(Three Han States) |
aa |
aa |
aa |
| 100 |
Three Kingdoms:Silla(57 B.C. - A.D.
935)
Goguryeo (37 B.C. - A.D. 668)
Baekje (18 B.C. - A.D. 660)
Gaya (42-562) |
aa |
aa |
Birth of Christ |
| A.D. 200 |
aa |
Later Han Dynasty (26-221)
Three Kingdoms (220-280) |
Iron Age |
aa |
| 300 |
aa |
Jin Dynasty (265-420) |
Tumulus Period |
Christianity adopted as the state
religion of Roman Empire (392)
Roman Empire divided (395) |
| 400 |
aa |
Nothern and Southern
Dynasties (420-581) |
aa |
Anglo-Saxons established in Britain
(449) |
| 500 |
aa |
aa |
Asuka Perios (552-645) |
Mohammed (570-632) |
| 600 |
Unified Silla Kingdom(676-935)
Balhae Kingdom (668-928) |
Sui Dynasty (581-618)
Tang Dynasty (618-906) |
Nara Period (645-794) |
Hegira (622) and beginning of Islamic
era |
| 700 |
aa |
aa |
Heian Period (794-1185) |
aa |
| 800 |
aa |
aa |
aa |
Charlemagne crowned first Holy Roman
Emperor (800) |
| 900 |
Goryeo Dynasty (918-1392) |
Five Dynasties(906-960)
Song Dynasty (960-1279) |
aa |
aa |
| 1000 |
aa |
aa |
aa |
First Crusade (1096-1099) |
| 1100 |
aa |
Yuan Dynasty (1279-1368) |
Kamakura Period (1185-1392) |
aa |
| 1200 |
aa |
Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) |
aa |
Magna Carta (1215)Marco Polo (1254-1324) |
| 1300 |
Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) |
aa |
Muromachi (Ashikaga) Period(1392-1568)
|
The Hundred Years' War(1338-1453) |
| 1400 |
aa |
aa |
aa |
Gutenberg's Press (1492)
Columbus discovers America (1492)
|
| 1500 |
aa |
aa |
Momoyama Period(1568-1615) |
Martin Luther launches reform of
the church (1517) |
| 1600 |
aa |
Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) |
Tokugawa Period(1615-1867) |
The Thirty Years' War(1618-1648) |
| 1700 |
aa |
aa |
aa |
American Independence (1776)
French Revolution (1789-1793) |
| 1800 |
aa |
aa |
Meiji Period(1868-1912) |
American Civil War (1861-1865) |
| 1900 |
Annexation by Japan (1910)
Establishment of the ROK (1948)
Korean War (1950-1953) |
Establishment of the ROC (1912)
Establishment of the PRC (1949) |
Taisho Period(1912-1926)
Showa Period(1926-1988)
Heisei Period(1989-) |
World War I (1914-1918)
World War II (1939-1945) |
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